16 THE DIRECTOR, EXPERIMESTAL FARMS 



THE CROPS OF 1901 IX MANITOBA 



Wheats.— The crops in Manitoba, although not quite so heavy were very fine. At 

 the experimental farm at Brandon the bebt twelve varieties of spring wheat gave an 

 average return of thirty-six bushels fifty-seven pounds to the acre, the Goose wheat 

 heading the list with a yield of forty-two bushels. The Goose, however, is a hard trans- 

 lucent wheat, not very glutinous, and is not much in demand in Manitoba, although 

 it sells at a very good figure in Ontario, where it is bought by exporters to send to 

 France and Germany and other countries, where it is used very largely. 



By Mr. Bohlnson (Elgin): 



Q. It has more value now than formerly ? 



A. Yes. there is a larger demand for it now than there was a few years ago. But 

 whether our own millers use any of it I do not know, but the demand abroad is quite 

 large. It is an excellent wheat for the making of macaroni or pie crust, or any kind 

 of pastry where a light porous dough is not required, and in France that wheat is 

 regarded as one of the best wheats for bread-making. They do not care for a very 

 light porous bread, but prefer bread which is more solid, and the Goose wheat and all 

 that class of wheat known there as hard wheats, varieties of Triticum durum, are re- 

 garded as of superior quality even to our Bed Fife wheat in the Xorth-west. 



But when you get to England there is a different standard there, and the highly 

 glutinous wheats of the Xorth-west are much preferred. It will thus be seen that 

 markets can be found for all sorts of wheats. 



In oats, the average of the best twelve sorts at the Brandon experimental farm 

 gave 88 bushels 10 pounds per acre, the heaviest crop being that of the Early Maine, 

 which gave 91 bushels 20 pounds per acre. i 



Barleys. — In six-rowed barleys, the best six sorts averaged 46 bushels 12 pounds 

 per acre, Mensury taking the lead with 48 bushels 16 pounds. The best six sorts of 

 two-rowed barleys yielded so»iewhat less, averaging 41 bushels 42 pounds per acre, 

 the highest yielder being the Jarvis, one of the new hybrid sorts, which have been pro- 

 duced at the experimental farms. 



Pease also did very well there, the twelve best sorts giving an average of 40 bushels 

 18 pounds per acre, the Paragon heading the list with 43 bushels to an acre. 



Indian corn was a good crop at Brandon last year, and cut green for ensilage, 

 gave an average of -Jl tons 1,472 pounds per acre. 



The best six sorts of turnips gave an average return of 28 tons 1,860 pounds per 

 acre. 



The six best sorts of mangels yielded an average of 38 tons 164 pounds per acre. 



The six most productive sorts of carrots averaged 19 tons 1,673 pounds per acre, 

 and the four heaviest yielding sugar beets gave an average of 28 tons 1,420 pounds per 

 acre. 



By Mr. Boliiiison (Elcjin) : 



Q. How is the soil prepared for mangels and carrots ? 



A. By summer-fallowing. 



Q. And manure ? 



A. Sometimes barnyard manure is used. It is not practical, however, to use this 

 manure to any extent, as it makes the soil open and porous and produces unfavourable 

 conditions if the season is very dry. The best twelve varieties of potatoes at Brandon 

 yielded an average of 597 bushels and three pounds per acre. These figures indicate 

 the excellence of the crops all through the Canadian North-west. 



Since the general law that like produces like has a bearing on seed grain, it was 

 deemed important to secure our main supplies of seed grain for distribution this year 



